The Battle Of Hearts A Choice Between Power And Love

chapter 21 The Dispute Of Hearts

Annika's POV

I went to my chambers. I had to tell the whole thing to papa.

But he wasn't at the best of his health and with the inauguration planned out tomorrow, it's such a close call and it might came out as a shock for him. I was worried for his wellbeing.

I can't ... Bhaiyya! He could tell him! I had to tell him, if not papa. At least Adhi should know what going on.

This was going to mess him up, just as it did with me. At least it was fine with me, considering what I had with Philip was still just an attraction. It wasn't love. It didn't get time to bloom into love - and thank god for that! But that's when it crossed my mind.

What would have happened if I never found out about this?

He would have lied to me every single day!

'Don't be selfish Annika!' I scolded myself internally.

No. He would have broken my family to pieces, taken over the power we held, manipulated the people and would have taken advantage of them all.

My throat felt blocked as the emotions flowed through me.

How could he?

He didn't have a heart! I was sure that even if he did, it was a frozen one or one made of steel - something which was definitely not beating with life and emotion.

But poor Adhi loves Amaia – it's clear in his eyes, the way he looked at her, the way he smiled at her. I have always seen him weighed down by his duty as the prince - and yes, I have seen him as my brother, a person too.

But I had never seen him in love before.

This was the first time.

Knowing that I had to be the one to break the truth to him weighed down on me like an anchor. The way Amaia looked at him - it was the one of love.

Maybe she didn't have a part in Philip's master plan.

Maybe she had just accompanied him because he was her brother.

Maybe she was innocent - but I didn't know it for a fact.

There was no other way. This was the only way and it was gonna hurt - hurt me, hurt Aditya, hurt Amaia perhaps. It would hurt everyone of us. I then walked over to Aditya's room, gathering my courage to be the bearer of bad news for him.

"Oh god, please let him be alone! Please not today! Please let Amaia not be in his chambers with him!" I hoped in my mind. I didn't mind my brother with Amaia. I didn't mind doing what he wanted. But just not today, because if Amaia knew about this, it's not going to make this situation any better for any one of us.

Unfortunately for me, luck was not on my side today.

I heard sounds from his room before I could knock his door - I heard muffled noises.

"Damn it Adhi!" I cursed under my breath. I knocked the door anyway.

"Bhaiyya?" I called out and I didn't fail to hear a groan of frustration in reply.

"Bhaiyya, it's urgent. Can I talk to you? Could you come out?" I asked.

"Is it really that important that you have to interrupt me - now of all times, that too at an ungodly hour?" he said. I didn't hear any more muffled sounds.

"Haan bhaiyaa, it's important. Just come out - we have to talk" I replied. When he opened the door, walked out and closed the door behind him, I didn't miss the sight of Amaia wrapped in the blankets on his bed. He knew this was important because I was here, outside his room – that too, at midnight. We walked to my room.